All About Labrador Retrievers

Labrador Retriever is a dog that has the most versatile performance. The breed in recent decades has become one of the most popular among our compatriots. This is not surprising, because Labradors are truly universal: they are used in search and rescue operations, they serve as good guides, are indispensable in the work of police, customs services and drug control structures. And in the house these dogs will become good companions for walks and games with their large and small owners.

Despite the fact that there are persistent associations between the name of the breed of dogs and the famous North American peninsula, no relationship between the researchers was found. The first mention of this dog appeared on the island of Newfoundland. The origin of the breed is explained by a variety of theories. According to one of them, the dogs of the black suit were the first to appear - the color of their wool resembled the deposits of a rock of magmatic origin, labradorite, widespread in those parts of the rock. In accordance with another theory, the name of the animals was given to Europeans, who did not particularly understand the place names of the New World, so they named the dogs on the grounds that these animals arrived in European countries on ships sailing from the shores of the Labrador Sea. There is a third opinion - some data indicate that both of these breeds appeared at about the same time, but due to the annoying confusion of dogs from Newfoundland, they named the neighboring island Labrador by name, and vice versa.

It is believed that the distant ancestors of the Labrador Retriever were St. John's water dogs. Unfortunately, studying their history over the years now no longer seems at least somewhat possible, but cynologists believe that this variety was the result of numerous interspecific crossbreeding of dogs of various breeds that have been on the American coast since the era of the great geographical discoveries.

The first researchers to set foot on the shores of Canada were sailors from Portugal. Most likely, it was thanks to their efforts that the Can-di Agua came into being - water dogs that were bred back in the Middle Ages to help sailors. They often played the role of postmen between ships of the same flotilla, delivered letters to land, helped to pull things out by chance, and even participated in the cod corral in the set fishing nets. These dogs felt great in the water even at great depths, so Canadians often resorted to their help in finding drowned people. Unfortunately, a whole galaxy of prohibition laws that established increased taxes for dog breeders has led to a significant reduction in the number of these animals, and subsequently their complete disappearance.

Labradors came to the European continent from merchant ships. For quite some time, strong economic ties existed between England and Newfoundland - on the shores of Britain, Canadian fishermen sold the cod they caught. Known for their love of hunting, the British immediately turned their attention to nimble dogs that were easy to train - That is how in the XIX century began the import of "small Newfoundland" dogs. The breed designation, adopted at present, appeared only in 1870, at about the same period the source of “fresh blood flow” gradually began to dry up, and a few years later, in 1895, a quarantine act was adopted in the country, according to which the import of animals without semi-annual quarantine into the country was banned. From that moment, dog breeding was made possible exclusively through internal breeding.

The very first breeders were representatives of the two largest families - the Duke of Buckley and the Earl of Malmesbury, it was thanks to their efforts that the breed became popular among English aristocrats. In addition, it turned out that shorthair dogs from Newfoundland became ideal helpers when hunting small game. They were distinguished by a meek disposition in combination with endurance, they had the ability to quickly find and aport a shot game and other prey. The great success of large dogs was promoted by their exceptional show qualities.

For several decades, there was a complete mess with the classification of dogs to one or another species. Often there were situations when puppies from the same litter were assigned to different branches of the retriever, but in 1903 the breed was officially recognized, at the same time a club of dog breeders was created and several kennels were established, a Club of Labrador Retriever Breeders appeared - this organization is still operating today. tirelessly taking care of maintaining breed characteristics and clean lines.

During the First World War, these dogs again went across the ocean. They quickly became popular in the United States. Gradually, the American type of breed appeared, the debate about its belonging does not subside to this day.

Labrador retrievers are very active and nimble dogs of a strong physique.

When determining breed purity, experienced breeders in all countries are guided by the accepted standard of the International Cynological Association. In 2011, its latest edition was approved.

The head is not very massive. The transition from the head towards the muzzle is quite pronounced. Nose with large nostrils. The size of both jaws is medium, the fangs grow strictly upright, the grip is strong. The upper incisors completely overlap the lower ones.

The eyes are small, but not small, the iris is walnut or brown. Their expression is very smart, reflecting the nature of the pet.

The ears are medium, hanging type, are thrown back, at the same time they fit snugly to the head.

The neck is strong and muscular, the transition lines are soft.

The top line of the hull is horizontal. The loin is shortened, moreover, it is wide and muscular. The sternum area is powerful.

The forelimbs are straightened from the elbow to the ground, the skeleton is strong, the shoulder region is long, slightly sloping. The blades are compact, elongated, due to this a wide step of 90-150 degrees is provided, the legs are rounded, the pads are developed.

The hind limbs are strong and powerful, with no sign of the tilt of the croup to the tail. Knees with pronounced angles - 110 degrees, this determines the optimal structure for the correct movement of the back. The hocks are pretty low. The structure of the hind legs corresponds to the front.

In Labrador Retriever, the tail is quite strong near the base, smooth-haired, becomes narrower towards the end. This form is called the reverse otter. The size is medium, usually kept low, bending into the ring for dogs of this breed is not peculiar.

The retriever has a very thick but short coat, quite tough, while the undercoat is thick, so the dog is protected from frost in the winter. Its color, as a rule, is monophonic, most often black, fawn or brown. Fawn is allowed in a variety of colors from pale beige to reddish-brown, brown is represented by two colors - chocolate and liver. A small whitish spot in the sternum is allowed.

In accordance with the standards, the growth of males at the withers corresponds to 56-57 cm, bitches - 54-55 cm. Not so long ago, Labradors only 50 cm high began to appear in European countries, and this trend is of concern to dog handlers. Body weight is not regulated by standards, but usually the weight of males varies from 29 to 36 kg, and of females from 25 to 32 kg.

It should be borne in mind that Labrador Retrievers differ among themselves not only in the existing official typology (for example, American and English, classical and modern), but also depending on the class of the animal. For example, show dogs that are bred for competitions and exhibitions are usually heavier than workers, but the latter are more athletic and their legs are slightly longer.

To the main advantages breeds include:

• mental balance;
• friendly character;
• devotion to his master and members of his family;
• unpretentiousness in leaving and the maintenance;
• the ability to easily get along with other pets;
• the ability to use dogs as a guide;
• high intelligence;
• good learning ability;
• developed hunting instincts;
• strong immunity (subject to a successful heredity).

Labrador retrievers also have disadvantages. These animals are quite capable of chewing on children's toys and personal belongings of their master, and in addition, they require walks at any time of the year, regardless of the weather. If the animal has poor genetics, then it is prone to some hereditary pathologies, including oncology.Most of the owners of Labradors are frightened by the fact that they shed very much and also have a rather unpleasant pungent odor.

There is an opinion that Labrador Retriever is an animal with a short life span. This is not so, retrievers are healthy animals, and if diseases occur with them, then in most cases they are hereditary, and they can develop not only in adult dogs, but also in puppies. These problems include:

• hip dysplasia is a disease of the cartilage, which is expressed by lameness and persistent pain in the dog;
• arthrosis of the knee - represents the complete or partial destruction of articular cartilage in the knee; most often in the early stages it is invisible, therefore it is diagnosed already in a neglected course;
• retinal atrophy is an eye pathology that in most cases leads to blindness;
• epilepsy - a pathology of a neurological nature, most often hereditary, but in some cases it can develop with adverse life factors;
• dermatitis is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the skin of an animal.

In Labradors, there are cases of severe allergies, usually food, but sometimes the animal’s body reacts to a particular irritant in the environment.

If we talk about the nature of retriever, then they are distinguished by reliability, fidelity, intelligence and activity. It is quite difficult to find a dog with a softer and more accommodating character than a Labrador. These animals are exceptionally friendly and in every situation try to please people. The manifestations of aggression are unusual for them, so there is absolutely no difficulty in a house where there are already other pets.

These animals treat children well, their reputation in this matter is truly impeccable, and applies to all children without exception. Labradors are magnificent nannies; they do not divide babies into friends and foes. With hostesses, they “do not spill water” - these are the best companions for games. Away from the children, they get bored, and being close, they are ready to play with them for days on end.

Labradors are very positive about strangers. On the one hand, this is a plus, since few people like to visit and be out of favor with a large dog. But at the same time, this is a drawback - perhaps there is no other breed that would so sincerely enjoy strangers - this makes it impossible to use the animal as a watchman.

Labradors are not suitable for protection. The love for people in them is so great that dogs do not even think that an outsider can hurt them or their owners. The maximum that the dog owner can count on is a light warning bark, but almost immediately it turns into a gentle whimper and attempts to kiss the stranger.

These are incredibly playful animals, especially in childhood, so it should be noted that these dogs grow up very late, keep all puppy manners up to 3 years old in their souls and behave accordingly. Many labrador breeders even call them “40 kilograms of uncontrollable joy,” as they try to throw out all their positive energy at every convenient and inconvenient occasion.

The Labrador Retriever is considered an ideal guide for people with disabilities, in particular for the visually impaired, and dogs also have pronounced therapeutic abilities for people with autism. These animals are often used as service animals during search and rescue operations., including on the water. Labradors have a good sense of smell, so they often help special services in finding drugs and explosives.

The memory of generations makes the animal excellent dog dogs - they can quickly find wounded animals and bring them to hunters. However, if you are not fond of shooting, then you can replace it with active games with your pet - it will be enough for you to regularlyport balls and sticks away. This is an ideal training for labradors, which will not only entertain them, but also save you from extra calories.

By nature, Labradors are attentive and obedient, they are ready to learn and obey the owner in any situationTherefore, dogs of this breed can be trained even at home without resorting to the services of experienced dog handlers. The first thing that a dog must understand for himself is his nickname. Before the end of the vaccination quarantine and, accordingly, before the first exit to the street, the pet must also learn the command “to me”, with the help of which the owner calls the dog.

Professionals note that the main mistake of breeders is to consider that their dog is intelligent and quick-witted. Of course, Labradors are endowed with intelligence, but when it comes to training, you should not endow the dogs with human qualities. The fact is that dogs of this breed are able to distinguish intonations, but it is important to keep in mind that even root words always sound different for them. Therefore, before starting education, you need to choose a single option for the team and never bow it, do not replace it with other synonyms. Try to consistently and systematically train your pet in one team by repeated repetitions during the day, and only after the animal has learned it, you can proceed to the next.

The very first lessons on the street are best done in a deserted place where no one can distract the young Labrador. It will be better if the training takes place in the form of a game, then the dog will remember all the basic requirements much faster.

After the baby settles on the street, you need to do its socialization. To do this, it should be taken to places of general dog walking. The Labrador should form an adequate reaction to other people's animals and strangers.

Some owners of retriever labradors do not delve into the issues of raising and training their dogs, because they believe that natural devotion, a desire to please the owner and members of his family, as well as the absence of aggression, already make dogs adapted to life in humans. In this case, they are limited to the development of basic behavioral skills in crowded places. Others, by contrast, make every effort to get a well-mannered dog - then you should turn to professional trainers. It will be quite useful to take a training course together with your four-legged pet.

It is important to establish once and for all for your dog the limits of what is permitted. If the puppy is forbidden to go into some room in the house, for example, into the bedroom, then this only means that access to it should always be closed, regardless of your mood and behavior of the dog.

The vast majority of dog handlers agree that Labradors themselves are a kind of retriever, where besides them, there are several more breeds.

• Golden retriever - this animal has many external resemblances to a Labrador, but its coat is a little longer, and its temperament is more calm and balanced.

• Flat Coated Retriever - An exceptionally smart and friendly dog, but it is distinguished by suspiciousness and extreme emotionality.

• Chesapeake bay retriever - This dog is often called a kind of commandos in the family. The animal was bred specifically for work in the military and rescue departments for use in the most difficult climatic conditions. This species, in comparison with its closest relatives, has greater stamina and a rather severe disposition.

• Curly-haired - Another long-haired retriever in the service, but mostly security. Of the entire large family of retrievers, only this dog has the potential of a guard and guard.

• Nova Scotia - It can also be used as a guard dog, but to a lesser extent than its brethren. This breed is more difficult to train. In our country and in the neighboring states of the former CIS, it is not widespread.

Given the hereditary tendency of Labrador Retriever to many diseases, it is necessary to take the choice of a puppy as responsibly as possible. First of all, it should have a fluffy, soft and silky coat with a pleasant smell. Discharge from the eyes and ear canals is not allowed. The activity of the young Labrador will be a good indicator of health - if the pet is cheerful, playful and restless, it means that he has good health. If you are offered a sluggish and atypical dog, feel free to refuse such an acquisition.

See how the dog reacts to you. Normally, the puppy should not show any signs of fear and timidity when meeting a new person. If you are offered the smallest puppy from the entire litter - this is also a reason to refuse, most likely the animal is inferior.

Usually the puppy is taken from the mother at the age of 2-3 months. You should not buy a newborn Labrador, as in this case he has not yet received the necessary maternal nutrition. If you take the animal at an older age, it is possible that the puppy did not socialize, but spent all these months in the aviary, then, most likely, the pet will grow up aggressive or, on the contrary, too nervous and timid.

Labradors are gaining the final mass closer to 12 months, and the exterior is formed only by two years, so you can not judge the potential exhibition qualities of the dog at 5 or even 6 months. If you intend to participate in the exhibition activities and pursue the career of your four-legged friend, it is best to attract a competent specialist who will give you the necessary recommendations when buying a dog.

Usually for shows buy males. They look much more spectacular and larger. If your goal is breeding retriever, then it is better to give preference to females. Labrador girls are unlikely to shine at exhibitions, but they will be able to pass on their good inheritance to future litters of retriever.

Since most of the health difficulties of Labradors are hereditary, the most basic criterion when buying a dog is the state of health of the parents. Retrievers must be purchased exclusively from nurseries specializing in labradors, always with a good reputation. There are not many certified breeders in our country, but most of them can provide a pedigree and a veterinary passport for their animals.At the stage of absentee selection, make sure that the puppy's photos correspond to reality - often unscrupulous sellers display images of the strongest and most healthy puppy in the ad, and offer another. It will be useful to ask for an additional photo, for example, in a normal environment, in the circle of your brothers and sisters, and even better a video.

Before you start a Labrador Retriever, you should create decent conditions for him. Be sure to get a collar, leash and harness, jumpsuit for winter walking. In addition, you immediately need to buy all the necessary grooming accessories - a furminator, as well as a comb and a nail clipper - it will come in handy in case the dog walks exclusively on soft ground.

You need to prepare a corner for your pet. First you need to hide all the wires by putting them in special boxes. Do not forget to hide all the charges from gadgets and plugs from household appliances, otherwise your pet will gnaw them as soon as possible.

Be sure to set the zone of personal space - the place where the pet will lie should be secluded. It is not necessary to arrange a couch where households constantly go, next to a working TV, where there is a constant draft or heating appliances.

Prepare all the necessary utensils - feeders and drinkers. Given that the dog has a very strong sternum, you will not be disturbed by racks with adjustable height. Bowls can be plastic or metal. Install the latches and locks on the doors in those rooms, the entrance to which will be prohibited for the pet.

In a private house additional measures will be required to prepare for keeping the animal. It is very important to prevent the escape - to do this, enclose the enclosure with a net and make sure that there is only one way out of it, that the hedge material is strong and the dog has no loopholes that would allow it to leave its corner without permission.

If the animal will be kept in a booth, then it must be spacious, insulated, with a waterproof roof. Feeders are best installed under a canopy on the floor.

Try to organize for the baby an entertainment strip that would allow him to frolic while you are away. If possible, then organize a small artificial pond - Labradors love water procedures and will not fail to swim in the hot season.

Both types of retriever content have their own subtleties. So, in the apartment it will be easy to realize the animal’s need for socialization and constant contact with the owner and members of his family. At the same time, one should not forget that Labradors are rather large animals, therefore, with all, even very great desire, he will be too crowded in a small apartment. In a fenced enclosure, your four-legged friend will receive much less communication than he wants, in addition, the retriever's wool is designed to be protected from moisture, but not from the cold, so in any case, the dog will need to be moved to a heated room in winter.

The Labrador Retriever is quite unpretentious in care, therefore, some special skills for the maintenance of this animal is not required. It is necessary to wipe his eyes once a week with a weak solution of furatsilina or infusion of chamomile. Ears are occasionally treated with a cotton swab dipped in boric alcohol or veterinary lotion.

Retriever’s claws usually grind on their own while walking on a hard surface, but if the dog spends a lot of time in the area with a grassy lawn or you walk mainly in a forested strip, you will have to cut the claws with a special pruner from time to time.

Particular attention should be paid to the condition of the pet’s teeth. From early childhood, you should teach your puppy how to clean them at least once a week. If you feed the dog dry food, then you can carry out this procedure less often - granules help clean off tartar. When feeding "naturalka" in the diet should include special tooth sticks, cartilage and bones, which also remove plaque.

Pet care requires a little more attention. Particular care must be taken not to coat the hair, but to undercoat, which is usually thick, fairly dense and waterproof. These properties create a favorable environment for the propagation of parasites, so these dogs are more likely than others to suffer from fleas.

It is very important to periodically carry out preventive treatment of the dog, combing it at least twice a week with the help of a brush-furmer. If you do not pay enough attention to this procedure, then faded hairs will begin to irritate the skin of the dog and ultimately lead to the development of dermatitis.

You need to wash the dog 3-4 times a year or as needed, while it is better to use specialized shampoos intended for dogs of thick-haired breeds.

In spring and summer, it is possible that the animal is affected by ticks, so after each walk, be sure to inspect your pet. In addition, once a quarter, as well as before mating, dogs are dewormed.

The first vaccinations are given to labradors at 2-3 months, then vaccination is done at 6 months and a year.

Labrador is an active dog, which due to its genetics is designed for ebullient activity and existence in difficult natural conditions. But the realities of life in urban apartments create a significant imbalance between the calories received and the energy lost. All this becomes a common cause of obesity, problems with the heart and blood vessels, as well as joints. To keep the dog healthy for as long as possible, he needs a balanced diet. It is best to give preference to ready-made feeds - they contain all the necessary nutrients in optimal dosages.

If you are a supporter of natural food for a dog, then keep in mind that at least 70% of the diet should be lean meat - veal, beef, lamb or chicken. A couple of times a week, it is allowed to replace one feeding with offal - liver or heart.

The remaining 30% is cereals and vegetables. It will be useful to add chopped greens or sprouted cereals to the mixers.

Once a week, inclusion in the menu of low-fat cottage cheese or kefir, as well as eggs.

In order for the pair to be matched correctly, should be guided by the following principles.

• Both animals must match each other in the return category.
• Male and female must have a similar exterior.
• Both dogs must be healthy - their physical and mental condition should not cause the slightest doubt.
• The physical form of the manufacturers must be satisfactory. Overweight or, conversely, underweight is not allowed.
• When choosing the optimal pair, all the advantages and disadvantages of each animal should be determined in advance.
• The pedigree of the pets must be compatible.
• It is very important that animals have similar weight and body weight parameters. Too strong a difference in these parameters of both parents often causes dysplasia of the offspring.

Usually, the first estrus occurs in Labrador females about a year, but at this age it is not recommended to give them a baby, because bearing and giving birth only exhaust the dog and harm its health and the offspring will turn out to be weak and sick. It is optimal to plan mating for a third estrus, which takes place in about 1.5 years.

Labrador prices are quite high - even the cheapest options cost no less than 15 thousand rubles. However, such pets do not have a passport and pedigree, because there is a high risk that the animal is in poor health.

A dog with all the necessary papers, but some defective symptoms, can become a wonderful pet, but will not be able to participate in exhibitions and competitions, and it is unlikely that they will be used as breeding material. The cost of such dogs is approximately 25-35 thousand rubles.

Show-class dogs, whose parents are recognized champions that meet all the official standards of the breed, will cost owners 40-60 thousand. In this case, your dog will not only be an active participant in exhibitions and contests, but can also be used for breeding.

Labrador Retriever is not for every family. The ideal owners for the animal will be the owners of a private house with a large plot. Fresh air, space and the ability to warm up at any time - this is a true paradise for the retriever, so the animal will be worn around the site all day. Keep this in mind if you have a garden area planted with flowers, vegetables, and young fruit trees.

If the lifestyle of the owners is a sport, frequent jogging, cycling, hiking and relaxing on the water, then your Labrador needs nothing more for happiness. These animals will always find a common language with older children. If they love and appreciate sports games, animals will be happy to race with them and fulfill all their commands.

Labradors are suitable for retirees, but only with relatively good health. Pensioners do not go to service - Labradors need constant contact with a person, pensioners often go for a walk - Labradors also appreciate walking on the street. They will become especially good companions for people of mature age involved in Nordic walking, fishing and swimming.

But the breed is not suitable for everyone. So, it is better to turn your attention to other animals in the following categories of owners.

• To passionate gardeners - These people spend whole days in beds and growing crops. You will have to keep the Labrador in such a plot on a leash, because the dog will not be able to evaluate the efforts of its owners and will rush around the site, sweeping and breaking all the landings that fall under its paws. If you are from this category, it is better to get yourself a neat little lap-dog.
• Too busy people - like many other dogs, Labrador Retrievers are sincerely attached to their owner and require constant contact. If a dog is alone for days, it can become apathetic, fall ill, or simply go crazy.From a feeling of loneliness, the dog begins to look for things that smell like the owner, and communicate with them. If you can’t give your pet enough attention, be mentally prepared for the dog to nibble your shoes. Careerists and workaholics should pay attention to the greyhounds, dachshunds or French bulldogs.
• Families with very young babies - Certainly, a labrador will never offend a child on purpose, but in a fit of playfulness, a dog of such a large size may not quite calculate its strength and injure a peanut. In addition, too noisy children can annoy the Labrador, so young parents are better off choosing intelligent and well-mannered cocker spaniels.

See more about breed features in the next video.